Stents, valved-stents and methods and systems for delivery thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to stents, valved-stents, (e.g., single-stent-valves and double stent/valved-stent systems) and associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery. The stent component comprises a first stent section (102) a second stent section (104) a third stent section (106) and a fourth stent section (108).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A delivery system, comprising:
 a catheter shaft; 
 a prosthetic valve coupled to the catheter shaft, the prosthetic valve including a stent and a plurality of leaflets coupled to the stent; 
 wherein the stent has an inflow end region and an outflow end region; 
 a sealing member coupled to the inflow end region; and 
 one or more fixation elements disposed along the stent, the one or more fixation elements being designed to releasably secure the stent to the catheter shaft, 
 wherein the sealing member includes a polymer. 
 
     
     
       2. A delivery system, comprising:
 a catheter shaft; 
 a prosthetic valve coupled to the catheter shaft, the prosthetic valve including a stent and a plurality of leaflets coupled to the stent; 
 wherein the stent has an inflow end region and an outflow end region; 
 a sealing member coupled to the inflow end region; and 
 one or more fixation elements disposed along the stent, the one or more fixation elements being designed to releasably secure the stent to the catheter shaft, 
 wherein the sealing member includes a fabric skirt. 
 
     
     
       3. A delivery system, comprising:
 a delivery catheter including a catheter shaft; 
 a handle coupled to the catheter shaft; 
 a prosthetic valve coupled to the catheter shaft, the prosthetic valve including a stent and a plurality of leaflets coupled to the stent; 
 wherein the stent has an inflow end region, an outflow end region, and a central region disposed between the inflow end region and the outflow end region; 
 wherein the inflow end region has an inflow outer diameter; 
 wherein the outflow end region has an outflow outer diameter; 
 wherein the central region has a central outer diameter; 
 wherein the inflow outer diameter, the outflow outer diameter, or both are greater than the central outer diameter; 
 a sealing member coupled to the inflow end region; and 
 a fixation element disposed along the stent, the fixation element being designed to releasably secure the stent to the catheter shaft. 
 
     
     
       4. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is an inner skirt. 
     
     
       5. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the stent includes a reverse anchoring crown comprising a plurality of proximal tips interspersed between successive fixation elements. 
     
     
       6. The delivery system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of proximal tips comprises four proximal tips. 
     
     
       7. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the inflow end region, the outflow end region, or both are flared. 
     
     
       8. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the inflow end region has an inflow outer diameter,
 wherein the outflow end region has an outflow outer diameter, and 
 the inflow outer diameter is different from the outflow outer diameter. 
 
     
     
       9. The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the stent has a central region disposed between the inflow end region and the outflow end region, and wherein the central region has a central outer diameter that is smaller than the inflow outer diameter, the outflow outer diameter, or both. 
     
     
       10. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fixation elements secure the stent to the catheter shaft when the stent is in a collapsed configuration and wherein the one or more fixation elements are released from the catheter shaft when the stent shifts to an expanded configuration. 
     
     
       11. The delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing member is an inner skirt. 
     
     
       12. The delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the stent includes a reverse anchoring crown comprising a plurality of proximal tips interspersed between successive fixation elements. 
     
     
       13. The delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of proximal tips comprises four proximal tips. 
     
     
       14. The delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein the inflow end region, the outflow end region, or both are flared. 
     
     
       15. The delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein the inflow end region has an inflow outer diameter,
 wherein the outflow end region has an outflow outer diameter, and 
 the inflow outer diameter is different from the outflow outer diameter. 
 
     
     
       16. The delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the stent has a central region disposed between the inflow end region and the outflow end region, and wherein the central region has a central outer diameter that is smaller than the inflow outer diameter, the outflow outer diameter, or both. 
     
     
       17. The delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more fixation elements secure the stent to the catheter shaft when the stent is in a collapsed configuration and wherein the one or more fixation elements are released from the catheter shaft when the stent shifts to an expanded configuration.